Nicotine Testing

Our facility is exploring the possibility of monitoring our nicotine users. Currently, our tobacco users pay a higher health insurance premium. We are toying with the idea of adding e-cig and vape users to this higher premium. Does anyone have policies regarding the use of nicotine and health insurance? If so, how do you police it to make sure employees are honest?

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    • Dana Barnard
    • HR Manager
    • Dana_Barnard
    • 6 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    we do nicotine testing as a part of our onboarding and yearly drug testing - if a person tests positive, they are charged a bi-weekly nicotine fee to supplement the medical insurance premium they pay - this covers all forms of tobacco and vaping 

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    • Ryan Mount
    • Employee Benefits Specialist
    • Ryan_Mount
    • 6 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Jennifer - We help implement a nicotine testing programs as well as smoking cession programs tied to health insurance. There are on site clinics which are the easiest way to get this done and carriers will sometimes pay your company to get them done. Send me an email, rmount@langgroup.com . Love to show you how to get this done for your company!

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  • We started a nicotine surcharge several years ago of $150/month for voluntary disclosure.  Then, when we added a wellness vendor, they included that testing as part of their biometrics so our company is not privy to specifics any longer. 

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  • Hi Jennifer.   First thing is to help them quit.  I am the only provider in the TriState that is certified to teach Mindfulness Training for Smoking (MTS).  It’s a highly effective intervention that teaches mindfulness skills through 7 weekly sessions plus a one day retreat.  Six month quit rates range from 39-59% which is significantly higher than standard options.   You can check out more on my website https://mindsatpeace.net/smoking-and-business/ 

    Nicotine testing is a great way to support people who are trying to quit.

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